Officer, You Did Your Job’: Attempted Murder Fugitive Caught on Route 4 After 25 Years

file photo Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, A routine traffic stop on one of North Jersey’s busiest highways brought a quarter-century manhunt to a dramatic end. What began as a simple pull-over for an obscured license plate quickly unraveled into the arrest of a fugitive wanted for attempted murder since 2001.

The Route 4 Traffic Stop That Unraveled a Lie

At around 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Paramus Police Officer Nicholas Perna stopped a 2009 gray Kia traveling west on Route 4 after noticing its Florida license plate was covered by a heavily tinted shield.

When questioned, the driver claimed the passenger was his brother, “James Haywood.” The passenger corroborated the story, providing the officer with James’ name and date of birth.

However, Officer Perna grew suspicious when the passenger failed to produce physical identification and provided inconsistent answers during questioning. A quick records check revealed that the provided identity matched a known alias used by Yancy Haywood, 52, of Paterson—a man actively wanted by the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office on a first-degree attempted murder warrant.

Tattoos, Scars, and Fingerprints Confirm Identity

Officer Perna’s keen observation extended beyond missing paperwork. The officer noticed distinct tattoos and physical scars on the passenger that matched descriptions listed on the 2001 warrant.

Despite Haywood’s persistent claims that he was James, officers transported him to Paramus Police Headquarters, where fingerprint verification conclusively confirmed his identity as Yancy Haywood. In a bizarre twist, law enforcement records show that the real James Haywood had been incarcerated in the New Jersey Department of Corrections since 2011.

Surrendering to the thorough investigation, Yancy Haywood conceded to Officer Perna at headquarters, stating: “Officer, you did your job.”

A 25-Year-Old Attempted Murder Warrant

According to court records, the attempted murder charge stems from an incident on October 16, 2001, involving an alleged purposeful or knowing murder attempt in Paterson, NJ. Haywood had successfully avoided capture for nearly 25 years before driving through Paramus.

Haywood was charged with providing false information to law enforcement and was remanded to the Bergen County Jail on the outstanding Passaic County attempted murder warrant. The driver of the vehicle was issued summonses for driving while suspended, driving without a license, and failing to provide documentation before being released at the scene.

“I commend Officer Perna for his exceptional work,” said Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti in a statement. “This arrest is an excellent example of the professionalism, instincts, and investigative skills our officers bring to work every day. Officer Perna’s diligence resulted in the apprehension of a fugitive who had been wanted for attempted murder for more than two decades.”

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• Tags: Paramus NJ Bergen County Route 4 Cold Case Arrest Passaic County New Jersey News Fugitive Captured